Theodora (Dolly) Karkouda(s) – Her story, by her daughter…..

She is the daughter of Mary (Hantzopoulos) & Andrew Karakoudas. Younger sister to her departed brothers George and Thomas. Older sister to surviving Barbara (Cookie) Kostopoulos and brother Perry Karakoudas. She is mother to me, her only child Marie (Mari) Barbara Goulis- Nijessen, mother-in-law to Peter Nijessen and Yia-yia to her only grandchild Anja Mura Nijessen. Auntie to my many cousins; Andy, Nick, Greg, Christopher, Matthew, Danny, Kevin, Michael, Andrea, Billy, Donna, Rich, Mary Kay, Susan, Tina, and Gail. Nouna to Gregory, Eleni, Stephanie and Nicholas.

A graduate of Peabody High School where she was on the school paper, a member of the debate team, an avid athlete, and had ambitions of being a writer. At her church St. Vasilios in Peabody, she was an active member being involved with the Sunday school program among others.

After marring George Goulis in 1957 and having me in 1958, they moved to California to the San Francisco Bay area in 1962. There she continued her education graduating from San Francisco State University with a Bachelor's degree in English while working a part-time job at Pacific Bell Telephone & Telegraph.

She loved to cook, host parties for the family, was also involved with the church in San Francisco again with the youth programs and Sunday school. She loved to sew, make her own and my clothing.

In 1975 after she and my dad divorced, she stayed in the Bay Area and started working at University of San Francisco as a grant researcher. She also had a foster child in her house for about a year. It was in the 80's that she starting becoming a vegetarian. She moved back to Massachusetts around 1988.

She was;

my mother, my beautiful, kind, generous, independent, stubborn, visionary mother.

So artistic, beautiful penmanship, classy, stylish, and loved a bargain!

Ahead of her time, looking always forward, she suggested we stop driving big cars and all switch to Mopeds! Stop eating meat and there's no need for high cholesterol! If we all do Tai Chi or Yoga we'd be in better shape and at peace! Make Love Not War! All these things long before they became popular, she was truly ahead of her time.

Optimistic to a fault. Tomorrow will surely be better than today. Sometimes her optimism wasn't realistic or practical but there had to be a way.

A creative soul with a sweet pure heart. Even when she had nothing, she would make you a scarf, a blanket or she would give you all she had if you needed it and she made and gave away many wonderful quilts.

Always up to the challenge and resourceful, not willing to give up, never! She tries to cheat when we played Scrabble, she'd make up words all the time!

She was a good daughter, sister, cousin, auntie, wife, mother, Koumbara, Nouna, Yiayia and above all a good friend.

'Think Orange' she would tell me. Be different by looking at the world differently, think round not square.

She loved her family, especially her granddaughter Anja, and because of her generous nature, no matter where she went, she created a family around her.

Her brilliant mind let her find solutions for others in need; she founded a free library in Pensacola, Florida, created a Million Dollar Fund non-profit organization to help fund others and was always always researching for grants to help people. She was brilliant, full of ideas and truly wanted to help others. She wrote many letters to Senators, House representatives and of course to the POTUS (past and present) asking for legislation for clean water, food and air for all Americans.

Her brilliant mind also caused her much suffering. It wouldn't allow her to get the help she needed to make her life easier. We all suffered watching this.

Regardless of her affliction, she lived on her own, handled her affairs with dignity, didn't want hand-outs and she did it her way. She struggled and she persevered. She walked the talk with her raw veganism. She wouldn't even wear wool.

She spent hours making, creating, reading, debating, researching and advocating make love not war, be vegan be healthy.

She lived her beliefs and didn't want to compromise her ideals.

A lady, a fun person, a loving person.

A light has gone out, a shadow has descended, the days are without warmth. I am already aching for the light that was within her to be thrown my way, the shower of love and happiness on her face when she saw me.

How I will miss her, let me count the ways.

How I will honor her, by living every day to the fullest, loving to the utmost.

If you would like to make a donation in her name please give to:

Vegan Awareness Foundation (now called Vegan Action).